The CBI on Wednesday registered a case against social activist Teesta Setalvad and her organisation for alleged violation of Foreign Contribution Regulation Act by receiving funds from foreign countries/donors without registration under the Act and seeking prior permission from the Union Home Ministry.
In the FIR registered late on Wednesday, the agency also named Setalvad’s husband Javed Anand and Gulam Mohammed Peshimam, both directors in Sabrang Communications and Publishing Pvt ltd based at Santacruz, Mumbai. The company has also been named as an accused in the case.
The case has been registered under Indian Penal Code (IPC) section relating to criminal conspiracy (120-B) along with relevant provisions of Foreign Contribution Regulation Act, 2010 and Foreign Contribution Regulation Act, 1976, official sources said.
The agency has booked Teesta, her outfit and two directors including her husband on the allegation of criminal conspiracy for illegal acceptance of foreign contribution without due registration and MHA permission, the sources said.
Agency sources said the accused persons in the case will soon be summoned for questioning in connection with the alleged violations by them.
Earlier, the Union Home Home Ministry had issued notices to Teesta and non-Governmental organisation Sabrang Trust for violation of FCRA norms in seeking contributions from foreign donors.
Major violations were also spotted by the Union Home Ministry in siphoning off funds by Sabrang Trust. Teesta had sought more time to explain irregularities but the Ministry recommended a CBI probe into the FCRA violations by the voluntary organisation sensing wider ramifications to national security.
During its enquiries into the irregularities by Teesta’s Trust, the Union Home Ministry also noticed that the NGO had also violated laws by establishing Sabrang Communication and Publishing Pvt ltd, a private limited profitable company under the Trust.